7th August, 2004

Following is the full text of the Joint Statement agreed to by Christian leaders at the National Marriage Forum in Canberra on 4th August, 2004.

"We, the undersigned affirm the belief of the National Marriage Forum that marriage is, ‘the union of a man and a woman to the exclusion of all others, voluntarily entered into for life’. We also believe that every child has a fundamental right to both a mother and a father and that the best way to secure this right is to establish a loving and stable marriage between a man and woman for life. Therefore marriage should be encouraged, strengthened and supported by Governments, society and individuals in every possible way.

We also believe that Australian marriages need the full economic and legal protection of the Australian government. The greatest resource Australia possesses lies in the families of our nation. The strength of Australian families depends on the qualities of the relationships between our nation’s mothers and fathers and that therefore the quality of our nation’s marital relationships will largely determine the destiny of Australia.

Although we are concerned to see the welfare and rights of those whose lifestyle is not conducive with marriage protected, we call on all political parties to resist any move that would compromise or weaken the institution of marriage. In particular we see its essential characteristics of being the union of a man and a woman and its ideal of commitment for life, as essential in promoting stability in families where relationships are increasingly under pressure.

We call on all political parties to commit to strengthen marriage and particularly to commit to pass the amendment to the Marriage and Family Acts currently before the Senate. It is as important to us that the Federal Government ensure that the best interests of children adopted from overseas are protected by ensuring they enter a family with both a mother and a father."

Sponsors included: Gwyn Milne, president of the Baptist Union of Australia; Reverend Jack Knapp, moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Australia; Father Michael Michael, secretary of the Clerical Council of the Diocese of Sydney of the Coptic Orthodox Church; Pastor Graeme Christian representing the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Australia; Bishop Pat Power representing the Catholic Archbishop of Canberra and Goulburn; Reverend Leigh Roberts representing Bishop Reg Piper of the Sydney diocese of the Anglican Church; Pastor Cheryl Osment, representing the Australian Christian Churches; Senior Pastor John Lewis, representing the head of the Assemblies of God in Australia; Reverend Dr Margaret Court, Victory Life Centre; Senior Pastor Graham Nelson, executive director of Associated Christian Ministries; Senior Pastor Shaun Hansen, Dunamis Christian Centre and chief executive of Christian Life Churches International; Pastor Brian Birkett, representing the Waverly Christian Fellowship Group of Churches; Richard Gee, representing the NSW Council of Churches; Ray Reid, representing the Catholic Bishop of Parramatta; Pastor Chris Sutton, representing the head of the Assemblies of God in Victoria; Senior Pastor Mike Murphy, Shire Christian Centre; Senior Pastor Brian Medway, national chairman of Crosslink Christian Network, Australia; Pastor Craig Anderson, representing Senior Pastor David MacDonald, chairman of Christian Outreach Churches Australia; Major David Woodbury, national secretary of The Salvation Army; Colin Bunnett, executive director of Focus on the Family Australia; Pastor Richard Holloway,representing Launceston Together; Pastor David Meech, representing the Christian Leaders Network (Launceston); and, Pastor Richard De Vries, representing the Christian Ministers Network (Hobart).